RESEARCH ENTERPRISE

Home › Research and Partnerships › Centers and Institutes › Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science › Animal Care

Animal Care

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the welfare of any animals used in teaching or research as directed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health. The IACUC is responsible for oversight of the animal care and use program and its components as described in the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Policy) and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide).

All Louisiana Tech University research or teaching involving animal subjects must be reviewed by IACUC of Louisiana Tech University prior to research and regardless of funding source. All vertebrate animals (animals with a backbone) require an IACUC protocol. Higher invertebrates also require an IACUC protocol and include: octopus, squid, nautilus, lobsters, crabs and hermit crabs, and crayfish.

IACUC responsibilities include:

  • Review, at least semiannually, the institution’s program for the humane care and use of animals;
  • Inspect, at least semiannually, the institution’s animal facilities (including satellite facilities);
  • Prepare reports to the Institutional Official (IO) of the IACUC evaluations;
  • Review animal welfare concerns;
  • Make recommendations to the IO on any aspect of the animal program, facilities, or personnel training;
  • Review and approve, those components of PHS conducted or supported activities related to the care and use of animals;
  • Review and approve, proposed significant changes to the use of animals in ongoing activities; and
  • Be authorized to suspend an activity involving animals.

References and Resources

IACUC Form & Committee – For more information, contact IACUC Chair, Xuan Liu, at 257-5206 or xliu@latech.edu. Forms should be routed to University Research to expedite approval. If you need additional information, contact Martha Stevens at 257-2938.

Policy 7109 Animal Welfare – Louisiana Tech University has filed an Assurance of Compliance with the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW— formerly OPRR) regarding its implementation of the provisions of the regulations for the protection of animal research subjects and is registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Animal Health Division; the institution meets the criteria described in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, No. 7, June 14, 1971; Public Health Service Publication No. 1024, Guide for Laboratory Animal Facilities and Care. All research projects involving animal subjects, both sponsored and non-sponsored projects, must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before the research project is initiated as well as periodically during the conduct of the research project. A faculty member planning to use animals in experimental research should contact the Chair of the IACUC and the Dean of the Graduate School and University Research to secure the criteria to which he/she must adhere.

The complete policy and procedure can be found here.

Animal Use Compliance Forms

IACUC Committee

IACUC Form

Order Request Form

IACUC Purchasing Memo

IACUC Protocol Amendment

Animal Welfare Concerns

  1. Actual or perceived mistreatment of an animal may be physical or psychological. Actual mistreatment is best thought of as any noncompliance with the regulations of any regulatory agency with jurisdiction over animal care or noncompliance with policies or procedures approved by the Louisiana Tech IACUC. Perceived mistreatment arises when someone feels that an animal is being misused or abused or that a particular protocol is detrimental to the health or welfare of an animal or person associated with animal care.
  2. In the event of any concern or complaint concerning animal care or use at Louisiana Tech, the IACUC will have the primary role its resolution. a. If the complaint concerns noncompliance with an approved protocol, the IACUC must investigate and remedy the situation and, if necessary, impose sanctions. b. If the complaint concerns animal use that has been approved by the IACUC the response may be: (1) no action after a review of the protocol, (2) revision of the protocol, (3) suspension of the protocol or (4) education of the complainant.
  3. Any complaint must be directed in writing to the Institutional Officer. Complaints received by anyone else must be directed to the IACUC. Any and all communications concerning the misuse of animals will be taken seriously. Anyone may make a complaint, both university employees and the public. The complainant is protected against recrimination by the statement on Retaliation in the Louisiana Tech “Manual of Policies and Procedures,” Section 1441.
  4. The identity of the complainant will be kept confidential, and he or she must be made aware of this protection.
  5. The formal complaint must be made in writing to the office of Associate Vice President for Research and Partnerships (IO). From there the compliant will be directed to the IACUC or an appointed investigatory committee if the complaint involves a member or members of the IACUC. For the procedure to be followed by the IACUC refer to the Animal Care section of the Research section.
  6. Mechanism for reporting animal welfare concerns are posted in the facility, which includes contact information of the IACUC Chair and the Director of the Animal Facility.

To report a concern or complaint anonymously, submit a message at the bottom of this page.

A concern or complain form can also be found in the link on below:

Concern or Complaint Form

Regulatory Agencies and Regulations

Below are three federal entities that help ensure compliance with Animal Welfare regulations:

  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
APHIS is the agency within the USDA that oversees compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations. The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is federal law that can only be changed by congress. The Animal Welfare Regulations are associated regulations to the AWA established by the USDA to create enforceable standards. These standards cover the humane treatment of certain laboratory animals and the registration/licensing procedures for institutions that breed, sell, transport, hold and use such animals.

NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
OLAW enforces the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. An approved Animal Welfare Assurance is kept on file with OLAW when funding from PHS agencies is received. The Assurance describes the institution’s program for complying with the PHS policy.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA governs food and drugs within the United States through Title 21 portion of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). There are parts related to animal care and the use of controlled substances as shown below:

21 CFR 58

– 58.43 Animal Care Facilities

– 58.45 Animal Supply Facilities

– 58.90 Animal Care

21 CFR 1308

– 1308 Schedules of Controlled Substances

Policies and Guidelines:

Field Studies Guidance:

To report a concern or complaint to the IACUC, download the fillable PDF below and email the completed form to xliu@latech.edu. Your contact information will be kept confidential.

PDF Animal Use Concern/Complaint Form